Hangzhou is positioning itself at the forefront of the global embodied intelligence revolution with the upcoming 2026 International Embodied Robot Scenario Application Competition. Scheduled for May 15-16 in Yunqi Town—the city’s established robotics innovation district—the event has already attracted registration from more than 100 domestic and international teams alongside nearly 1,000 elite robotics specialists.
The competition emerges as nations worldwide accelerate their pursuit of technological supremacy in embodied intelligence, particularly through humanoid robotics. According to event organizers, the industry currently stands at a critical juncture where laboratory breakthroughs must transition into commercially viable applications. The stability and reliability of robots operating within authentic, complex environments represent the fundamental challenge to achieving widespread industrial adoption.
Guided by the principle of ‘real demand, real scenario, and real implementation,’ the competition structure comprises three distinct contests. The Professional Test Competition will evaluate robotic capabilities across five crucial dimensions: mobility, endurance, navigation, voice interaction, and manipulation. Notably, certain events will mandate autonomous robot perception rather than remote control operation.
The Scenario Application Challenge, developed in collaboration with industry leaders including Ant Group and Greentown Group, derives its tasks from genuine business challenges. Participating teams may confront scenarios testing extreme maneuvering capabilities and emergency fire rescue management.
Li Yongwei, Chief Engineer of Zhejiang’s Economy and Information Technology Department, emphasized the human-centric purpose of robotic advancement: ‘The ultimate value of robotic technology lies not in technical stunts, but in serving humanity.’
Hosted within Yunqi Town’s concentrated ecosystem of robotics enterprises, the event aims to foster collaboration across industry, academic research, investment networks, and institutional knowledge. This gathering signifies a strategic effort to accelerate the practical implementation of embodied intelligence technologies that are reshaping global technological competition.